Empowering Indigenous Women Now and in the Future
On International Women’s Day, National Indigenous leaders, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Indigenous Relations and Status of Women, senior officials and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne met with delegates for the fifth National Indigenous Women’s Summit.
Held in Toronto, the summit brought together approximately 300 delegates from across Canada including First Nation, Métis, Inuit women, youth, Elders and grassroots community representatives to discuss issues related to “empowering Indigenous women now and in the future.”
Over the course of two days, delegates joined in discussions, heard several keynote speakers and participated in workshops. Delegates presented priority areas of action and highlighted the importance of implementation and accountability.
The themes of the summit included:
- Empowering women through life transitions
- Access to opportunity (employment, education, training, entrepreneurship)
- A culturally responsive, gender-based implementation of United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action
Quick Facts
- The summit was hosted by the province of Ontario, with coordination support from the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres.
- Ministers from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada attended the summit.
- National Indigenous leaders attended the summit from the following groups:
- Assembly of First Nations
- Native Women’s Association of Canada
- Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak / Métis Nation
- Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada / Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
- Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
